The applause gradually faded as the orientation ceremony came to an end.
Professors began organizing the freshmen while members of the Student Council remained near the stage, discussing schedules and answering questions from the faculty.
Within moments, the once orderly auditorium came alive.
Students rose from their seats, chatting excitedly as they followed their advisers toward the exits. Laughter echoed beneath the vaulted ceiling, mixing with the steady rhythm of footsteps across the polished marble floor.
"It looks like they’re gathering the freshmen," Claire said as she adjusted the strap of her satchel. "We should probably head over."
"...Mm."
Vivienne answered absentmindedly.
Claire noticed immediately.
Vivienne wasn’t looking at the departing students.
Her eyes were still fixed on the front of the auditorium.
Anthony Ashford remained near the stage, speaking quietly with a professor while several Student Council members waited nearby with folders in hand.
Claire followed her gaze before a small smile appeared on her face.
"...You’re looking at him again."
Vivienne blinked before laughing softly.
"...Am I?"
"A little."
Vivienne smiled without denying it.
"...I suppose I am."
Claire looked between her and Anthony before giving an understanding nod.
"You should probably go say hello."
Vivienne’s smile brightened.
"...I think I should."
"I’ll wait for you."
Claire stepped aside, giving her an encouraging smile.
Vivienne returned it gratefully before turning back toward the stage.
...
Okay.
She took her first step.
Here we go.
Another step.
Then another.
...Why did this seem like such a brilliant idea thirty seconds ago?
She almost laughed.
No, no.
Everything was fine.
She was only going over to greet him.
People greeted each other every day.
Perfectly normal.
Perfectly ordinary.
...
Unfortunately...
Anthony Ashford isn’t a perfectly ordinary person.
Her heart thumped against her ribs.
Oh my God...
I’m really doing this.
She had imagined this moment more times than she cared to admit.
Sometimes while reading the novel.
Sometimes before falling asleep.
Sometimes after rereading one of her favorite scenes for what was probably the hundredth time.
Back then, she’d always laughed at herself.
As if I’d ever meet Anthony Ashford.
And yet...
Here she was.
Actually walking toward him.
A smile quietly found its way onto her lips.
She tried to hide it.
It only grew wider.
"...Hopeless."
She murmured under her breath.
The smile refused to disappear.
How could it?
She was finally about to speak to the person she’d admired for years.
Of course she was excited.
Unfortunately...
That excitement came with an equally overwhelming amount of nervousness.
Calm down...
You’re only saying hello.
You can do this.
She nodded to herself.
Exactly.
I’m only saying hello.
A heartbeat later—
...Then why does this feel harder than every university entrance exam I’ve ever taken?
She sighed inwardly.
Because this is Anthony.
That was the entire problem.
She quietly tucked a loose strand of golden hair behind one ear.
A gentle breeze drifting through the open doors immediately carried it back across her cheek.
"..."
She stared at it for a second before giving up.
"Fine."
"Stay there."
Behind her, Claire happened to catch her eye.
She didn’t say anything.
She simply smiled and gave the smallest, most encouraging nod.
Vivienne smiled back.
For some reason...
That tiny gesture settled her nerves.
Just a little.
Okay.
I can do this.
She drew one slow, careful breath.
Then continued walking.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Anthony was only a few paces away now.
The professor he had been speaking with offered a polite nod before excusing himself.
For the first time since the orientation ended...
Anthony was alone.
This is it.
Vivienne stopped a respectful distance away.
Her heart was beating so loudly she was almost certain he could hear it.
She opened her mouth.
...
Nothing.
Not a single word came out.
...Wonderful.
I’ve forgotten how language works.
She stared at him.
Anthony looked up.
Say something.
Anything.
Even "good morning" would be an excellent start.
Vivienne took one last breath.
"...A-Anthony..."
Anthony watched the professor disappear into the departing crowd.
He had just reached for the folder tucked beneath his arm when movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention.
Golden hair.
Blue eyes.
...
Vivienne Beaumont.
For the briefest instant, an old instinct quietly resurfaced.
...Oh no.
The thought appeared so naturally that he almost found it amusing.
Almost.
Childhood memories flashed through his mind one after another.
"Anthony!"
A little girl wrapped both arms around his.
"Come with me!"
Another.
He and Damian had barely managed to hide inside the library before familiar footsteps echoed through the hallway.
"There you are!"
Another.
He had slipped away into the gardens hoping for a little peace and quiet.
Five minutes later—
"I’ve been looking everywhere for you."
And then...
Without fail...
One of the adults would laugh.
"Anthony, don’t leave your fiancée behind."
The memories disappeared almost as quickly as they had come.
Anthony quietly returned to the present.
They were adults now.
Running away would be ridiculous.
So he simply remained where he was.
Vivienne stood a respectful distance away.
That alone caught him slightly off guard.
As children...
She had never believed in such things as "personal space."
"...A-Anthony."
A tiny stutter.
She was smiling.
Her cheeks were noticeably pink.
Some habits, it seemed, hadn’t changed very much.
Anthony inclined his head politely.
"Good morning, Lady Beaumont."
The smile on her face somehow became even brighter.
For a brief second, Anthony wondered whether she’d always smiled that way.
The thought disappeared almost immediately.
"I..."
Vivienne clasped her hands together, only to realize she was fidgeting and quickly let them fall back to her sides again.
"I just wanted to congratulate you."
"Your speech was wonderful."
"I think everyone felt much less nervous after listening to it."
Anthony gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
"I appreciate that."
Vivienne smiled.
A real smile.
The kind that reached her eyes.
For a second she simply looked at him, as though she’d forgotten what she’d planned to say next.
Inside her head, however...
He answered.
...Of course he answered.
Why are you surprised?
I know!
But he answered!
She resisted every urge to grin like an idiot.
Barely.
Anthony waited patiently.
"I suppose..."
Vivienne finally managed.
"...you’re very busy today."
"There are still a few matters requiring the Student Council’s attention."
"Oh."
She nodded quickly.
"Of course."
"...I won’t keep you, then."
Anthony inclined his head once more.
"Thank you."
Another tiny silence settled between them.
Vivienne smiled.
"...It was really nice seeing you again."
"It was good to see you as well, Lady Beaumont."
She beamed.
"Then..."
"I’ll see you around."
"I’ll see you around."
Vivienne gave a small bow before turning to leave.
The moment she reached Claire, she let out the breath she’d been holding.
Claire smiled knowingly.
"...Well?"
Vivienne pressed both hands against her warm cheeks.
A smile she couldn’t suppress spread across her face.
"...I think..."
"...that went better than I expected."
Claire laughed softly.
"I thought it went well too."
Vivienne nodded happily.
"...I’m glad I went."
The two girls began walking toward the exit together.
Neither of them noticed Anthony quietly watching them disappear into the flow of departing freshmen.
...
Anthony exhaled.
Softly.
Almost imperceptibly.
...Thank goodness.
The freshmen were already being escorted to their classrooms.
There hadn’t been enough time for the conversation to become... longer.
That, he supposed, was fortunate.
He adjusted the folder beneath his arm before turning back toward another member of the faculty.
His phone vibrated.
A text message.
Evelyn
Good morning, Anthony.
Orientation just ended.
Everything went well.
Thank you again for helping me prepare before classes started.
Anthony’s expression softened ever so slightly.
He typed a brief reply.
I’m glad to hear that.
If you need anything, let me know.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
There was still plenty to do.
A new academic year had only just begun.
And somewhere else on campus...
The story quietly continued to move forward.